Method of automatic liquid temperature control and apparatus for carrying same into effect



Oct. 17, 1933- J. E CARROLL ET AL 1,930,789

METHOD OF AUTOMATIC LIQUID TEMPERATURE CONTROL AND APPARATUS FOR CARRYING SAME INTO EFFECT Filed April 18. 1932 I 1'64 i ,18 g

/ I I 1 T m M I I p A ron/vex Patented Got. 17, 1933 AT-E.

METHOD OF AU'roMA'rrc mourn TEMPERA- TUBE ooNrRoL AND APPARATUS roa CARRYING sAMEiNro Earlier Joseph Elmore Carroll, St. Louis, and Frank Henry Le Conipte, St. Louis County, Mo., as-

signors .of one-fifth to Raymond B.

Mexico, Mo.

Carroll,

Application April 18, 1932. Serial No. 605,980

3 Claims. (01. 123174) This invention relates to a method of auto- ,matically controllingv the temperature of liquids and more particularly to an automatic control for internal combustion engines, for controlling and dissipating, and stabilizing, the temperature generated in combustion engines used for automotive purposes.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a liquid temperature control of great uniformity and stability, thereby greatly increasing the general emciency of combustion engines.

Another object of this invention is to provide a liquid temperature control system, and apparatus for carrying said process into practical operation, that will not only favorably affect the thermal efiiciency of the power plant but will, also, greatly increase its mechanical emciency.

. Another object of this invention is to provide a liquid temperature control system and apparatus for carrying same into effect which maintains a practically uniform temperature at all times irrespective of sudden and great variations in climatic conditions, whereby great economy is secured in preventing freezing of the cooling liquidand consequent damage due to freezing of the pipes, cylinder block, etc.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus and method of automatically draining the radiator and cylinder block of an engine of liquid on stopping of the engine and automatically filling the radiator and cylinder block on starting the engine, and also automatically maintain the temperature of the liquid at approximately uniform degree.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the specification, claims and drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an automobile engine in which our system and apparatus is embodied.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation partly in section, showing the valve system and vacuum pump.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of an additional control valve.

The preferred method of carrying out our process of controlling the temperature of the en ine by the circulation of a liquid will be best understood by a study of the drawing illustrating the apparatus.

In Fig. l a cooling radiator l, of any suitable design, is connected at or near its top by an open ipe 2 with the upper portion 3 of the water jacket of the engine. The lower part of the water jacket of the engine is in open communication with the lower portion of the radiator by means ofthe pipe 4 and is, also, incommunication with a'sourceof Water or other cooling liquidsupply by means of a continuation of the pipe 4, designated as l, ending at 5, wholly within the Dewar flask, designated as a whole 0 The Dewar flask 6 consists of a tank having an interior container liquid and air tight sur rounded by another tank spaced apart from said first named tank so as to form anotherliquid and air tight container, thespacebetwe'en the two tanks being evacuated of air so as to form it into a complete air insulated tank.

Leading from the supply tank 6 is an open pipe '7 which branches at.8, said branches being providedwith identical inwardly opening check valves 9, best shownin Fig.2, permitting the cooling liquid to pass upwardly through the pipes 10 and 11 and discharge into the vacuum tank designated as awhole as 12.

The vacuum tank 12 consists of an air tight, cylindrical shell l3 provided with dual pistons 14 and 15 joined together by the spacingrod 16. The pistons 14 and 15 operate as follows:-- 1 .It will be noted thata partition wall 17 sepaso rates the. space between the pistons into two equal compartments. A pipe 18 is providedhaving two branches 18a and 18b putting the compartments of tank 12 into open communication with the intake manifold of the engine, through 5 pipe 26 so that as the engine is started and the pistons descend on the induction stroke, a vacuum is created in the tank 12, causing the liquid to flow from the supply tank up through pipe '7, through one or the other of the valves 9 into so the tank 12.

As the vacuum increases in chamber 12, the piston 14 moves to the right causing the piston i l to strike the slidable member 22, forcing it t the right until the port 23 is closed and the port 24 is opened, and at which time the vacuum, or suction, from the intake manifold acts through the port thenopened 24 to cause the cooling liquid from the tank 6 to be sucked into 12 and thence be forced by said piston 14 to flow into the radiator, this flow continuing until all of the liquid has been withdrawn from the tank 6. Thus, it is obvious that irrespective of which of the ports 23 or 24 is open to communicate with the intake manifold the starting .of the engine will force the liquid from the tank 6 into the radiator top. 1

In Fig. 3 is shown the enlarged detail View oi the valve 27, the same consisting of an outer shell 28 joined to the pipe 18 by the screw- 10 threaded member 29, and is in open communication with the pipes 4' by means of the screwthreaded members 30 and 31. Within the shell 28 there are a pair of piston heads 32 and 33, spaced apart and each secured on the rod 34, and urged to their lowermost point of travel, as shown, by the coil spring 35.

When the motor is in operation, there is of course, suction induced in the intake manifold.

in communication with the pipe 18 leading from the valve 2'7 and hence the pair of pistons 32 and 33 are actuated upwardly thereby, against the pressure of the spring 35, bringing the valve upwardly to shut off communication between the spaced ends of the pipe 4'-4 opening into the chamber 28. When the engine stops operation, the vacuum likewise ceases, and hence the spring 35 forces the pistons downwardly to open the passage between the ends 44 of the conduit, as shown in Fig. 3, and in which position the liquid will drain, through gravity, from the bottom of the radiator through the pipes 4 -4 into the tank 6. Immediately on again starting the engine, with a consequent vacuum, the coil spring is again compressed, the piston 33 closing the pipe 4 and the liquid enters the chambers 12 through the conduit '7, and is sucked thereinto and forced into the radiator as set forth, and continues to circulate therethrough as long as the engine is operating.

Therefore, 'it is obvious that whenever the engine stops, the radiator and cylinder block will be automatically drained of all liquid, which will be carried to the Dewar flask 6 and maintained at practically uniform temperature, and at the same time it is impossible to damage the cylinder block or radiator because of freezing of the liquid.

Another advantage is that in cold weather the engine will start more readily because of the fact that the water is returned to the radiator and cylinder block at approximately the same temperature at which it was removed.

It is further obvious that by this system the temperature of the engine will be maintained practically uniform thus increasing its operating efiiciency, and especially will the crankcase tend to remain at a uniform temperature thereby preventing to a great extent crankcase dilution in winter weather.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new and useful and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:-

.-1. The combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and a radiator; of a radiator-liquid storage tank; a conduit communicating between said tank and radiator andgcontrolled by the suction in said manifold; and a second conduit connecting said tank and radiator and also controlled by the suction in said manifold, passage through one of said conduits being closed while passage through the other one is open.

"2. 'The combination with an internal combustion engine provided with an intake manifold and a radiator; of a radiator-liquid storage tank; a conduit communicating bet-ween the bottom of said radiator and-said'tan'k; a valve-controlling passage through said conduit and 013- erably controlled by the suction in said *manifold; and a second conduit connecting-said ta-n'k 300 means controlled by the suction in said mani fold for closing said conduit; a receptacle having a pair of liquid chambers communicating with said tank; a conduit leading from-each chamber to the top of said radiator; and means operably controlled by the suction in said manifold for withdrawing the liquid from said tank into one or the other of said chambers and thence forcing the same into said radiator.

JOSEPH ELMORE "CARROLL. FRANK HENRY LE COMPTE.

was 

